Jakarta, INTI - Asian stock markets traded mixed, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street amid growing concerns over developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Most Asia-Pacific markets opened lower at the end of the week on Friday, February 13, 2026, as investor sentiment remained cautious.
Market participants across the region continued to monitor spillover effects from the US, even as Taiwan, one of the most prominent AI-focused markets, remained closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Regional Indexes Post Broad Declines
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slid 1.02% in early trading. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.58% after briefly touching the 58,000 level on Thursday, while the broader Topix index also declined 0.58%.
In South Korea, the Kospi edged up 0.35%, although the small-cap Kosdaq dropped 1.36%. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng futures stood at 26,703, below the index’s previous close of 27,032.54.
According to CNBC International, US markets closed in negative territory as fears surrounding AI-driven disruption weighed on investor confidence, marking a third consecutive decline for the S&P 500.
Several segments of the US equity market have been hit this year following the launch of AI tools capable of replicating business functions or squeezing corporate profit margins.
Shares of trucking and logistics companies also fell on concerns that new AI technologies could streamline freight operations, potentially reducing demand for industry services.
Real estate and financial stocks came under pressure as well, with commercial real estate brokers extending losses for a second straight session.
Overnight on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.34%, led by a sharp sell-off in Cisco Systems, which plunged 12% after issuing weaker-than-expected guidance for the current quarter.
The S&P 500 slid 1.57%, while the Nasdaq Composite retreated 2.03%
Conclusion
Asian markets closed the week under pressure as AI-related uncertainty continued to ripple through global financial markets. With Wall Street signaling sustained investor caution and multiple sectors feeling the impact of technological disruption, sentiment across Asia remains fragile.
As artificial intelligence reshapes industries at an accelerating pace, markets are likely to experience continued volatility, balancing long-term innovation opportunities against short-term economic and profit risks.
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